Organoids and neuron transplants give new ways to study the brain
But they also bring ethical concerns
STUDYING THE human brain is hard. Other animals’ brains provide clues. But they cannot reveal the special essence that makes human brains different. Nor, often, do they make good models for neurological conditions that affect human beings.
This article appeared in the Science & technology section of the print edition under the headline “From here to humanity”
Science & technology February 26th 2022
From the February 26th 2022 edition
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Elon Musk is causing problems for the Royal Society
His continued membership has led to a high-profile resignation
Deforestation is costing Brazilian farmers millions
Without trees to circulate moisture, the land is getting hotter and drier
Robots can learn new actions faster thanks to AI techniques
They could soon show their moves in settings from car factories to care homes
Scientists are learning why ultra-processed foods are bad for you
A mystery is finally being solved
Scientific publishers are producing more papers than ever
Concerns about some of their business models are building
The two types of human laugh
One is caused by tickling; the other by everything else